Dice shaker



April 28, 1970 w. H. JOHNSON 3,508,755

DICE SHAKER Filed Feb. 14, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 'v y ///l ll/I/llI 22 Walter H. Johnson 1N VEN TOR.

April 28, 1970 w. H. JOHNSON DICE SHAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14,1967 Wa/fer H Johnson INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,508,755 DICE SHAKER Walter H. Johnson, Denver,Colo. (4711 Lamar St., Wheat Ridge, Colo. 80033) Filed Feb. 14, 1967,Ser. No. 615,940 Int. Cl. A63f 9/04 US. Cl. 273-145 9 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE An elongated housing including a bottom, upstanding frontand rear walls and upstanding partitions spaced along said housing andextending between said front and rear walls dividing the interior ofsaid housing into individual compartments between the front and rearwalls thereof, each of said compartments having a die disposed thereinand including die pushing and clamping means adapted to engage thecorresponding die when disposed at rest in the bottom portion of thecompartment and to push the die toward one of the upstanding walls ofthe housing which includes a transparent portion through which the faceof the dice opposing the transparent portion may be viewed from theexterior of the housing.

The dice shaker of the instant invention is adapted to be utilized inconjunction with various forms of dice and includes a plurality ofcompartments spaced along one side wall of the housing of the shakerincluding transparent portions through which dice in the variouscompartments of the shaker may be viewed. Each of the compartmentsincludes inwardly projecting elements which the die therein may strikewhen the shaker is subsequently inverted and then returned to an uprightposition and the shaker includes dice engaging and clamping meansoperable to engage each die when disposed in a rest position in thelower portion of the corresponding compartment and push the die towardthe wall of the housing through which the dice may be viewed whereby thefaces of the dice opposing this wall may be viewed through the latterfrom the exterior of the shaker. The dice engaging and clamping meansare operative to maintain the dice in the bottoms of the compartmentsonce the clamping means are actuated whereby the relative positions ofthe dice may not change even though the shaker is inverted and the facesof the dice opposing the transparent portions of the wall against whichthey have been moved will remain visible through the transparentportions of the wall.

The main object of this invention is to provide a dice shaker forshaking a plurality of dice and for thereafter maintaining the dicesubstantially stationary in position relative to a direction from whichcorresponding faces of the dice may be viewed.

Another object of this invention, and in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object is to provide a dice shaker which will stationarilyposition the associated dice in position to be viewed from a singledirection and with the dice spaced along a predetermined path.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a dice shaker in accordance with the preceding objects whichwill conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device which will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside inthe details of construction and operationas more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts throughout, and in which:

ice

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the dice shaker ofthe instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudial vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the dice shakerof the instant invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal horizontal sectionalview taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIGURE4.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates one embodiment of the dice shaker of the instant invention.The shaker 10 includes a housing referred to in general by the referencenumeral 12 and including a bottom wall 14 secured to and extendingbetween upstanding front and rear walls 16 and 18. In addition, thehousing 12 also includes a pair of opposite end walls 20 and 22 whoselower ends rest upon the opposite ends of the bottom wall 14 and whichare secured between corresponding ends of the front and rear walls 18and 20.

A removable top assembly is provided and generally referred to by thereference numeral 24 and includes a top wall 26, front and reardepending wall panels 28 and 30 and depending opposite end panels 32 and34. The opposite end panels 32 and 34 are provided with threadedapertures 36 in which setscrews 38 are threadedly engaged and the top orcover assembly 24 is positionable over the upper end of the housing 12with the front and rear panels 28 and 30 and the opposite end panels 32and 34 telescoping downwardly over the front and rear walls 16 and 18and the opposite end walls 20 and 22. Further, the inner ends of thesetscrews 38 are receivable in suitable outwardly opening recesses 40provided therefor in the outer sur faces of the end walls 20 and 22.

The housing 12 includes a plurality of downwardly convergent partitions42, 44, 46 and 48 which have their lower ends abutted against the bottomwall 14 and extend between the front and rear walls 16 and 18 so as todivide the interior of the housing into a plurality of downwardlytapering compartments 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58, a suitable die 60 beingdisposed in each compartment.

The partitions each include oppositely projecting abutmerits 62projecting into the corresponding compartments and the top wall 26includes similar abutments 64 Which project downwardly into thecompartments and are engageable by the dice 60 when the housing 12 isinverted with the top assembly 24 thereon so as to cause the dice 60 totumble when falling to the top of the housing 12 as the latter isinverted and while falling to the bottom of the housing 12 when thelatter is returned to the upright position thereof illustrated inFIGURES 1-3. Still further, the inner surface portions of the end walls20 and 22 also include abutments 66 which are similar to the abutments62 and engageable by the corresponding dice 60.

The lower marginal portions of the front and rear walls 16 and 18include forwardly and rearwardly directed flange portions 16 and 18,respectively, to increase'the width of the footprint of the housing 10on a suitable supporting surface and to thereby increase its stability.Further, the rear wall 18 has a plurality of threaded apertures 70formed therethrough in which the threaded shank portions 72 of aplurality of die pushing and clamping members 74 are threaded. The endsof the members 74 disposed within the compartments 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58are provided with enlarged head portions 76 adapted to engage thecorresponding dice 60 and push the latter forward in the housing 12 intoabutting engagement with the inner surface of the front wall 16immediately below the inwardly projecting horizontal rib 78 carried bythe front wall 16 which serves to hold the dice 60 captive when themembers 74 are positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.The outer ends of the members 74 are provided with control knob portions80 whereby the members 74 may be rotated in the threaded apertures orbores 70.

Inasmuch as the top assembly 24 is removable, the binary diceillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 may be replaced by other types of diceincluding different indicia on the various side faces thereof.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings there maybe seen a second embodiment of the dice shaker generally referred to bythe reference numeral 90 and which includes a housing referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 92 provided with a bottom wall 94,front and rear walls 96 and 98, and opposite end walls 100 and 102. Inaddition, the housing 92 also includes a top assembly referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 104 consisting of a top wall 106,vertically short depending front and rear flanges 108 and 110, anddepending vertically short opposite end flanges 112 and 114.

A plurality of partitions 116, 118, 120 and 122 similar to thepartitions 42-48 are provided and divide the interior of the housing 92into individual compartments 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132 similar tocompartments 50-58. Further, the housing 12 includes an elongatedlongitudinally extending and generally horizontally disposed inwardlyprojecting rib 134 corresponding to rib 78 and a plurality of journalbosses 136 are supported from the rear wall 98 and have rotatablyjournaled therein the forward ends of a plurality of screw shafts 138threadedly secured through rear wall portions 140 of a plurality of diceengaging frames 142 slidably supported through the rear wall 98 andincluding forward wall portions 144 disposed in the compartments 124-132for engagement with the binary dice 46 disposed in those compartmentsand for shifting the dice 146 across the bottom wall 94 toward thedotted line position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawmgs.

Each of the compartments 124-132 includes a plurality of projections 148and 150 corresponding to the projections 62 and 66 and the top wall 106includes projections 152 corresponding to the projections 64. Inaddition, the front wall 96 also includes a plurality of projections 154and the opposite end flanges 112 and 114 include setscrews 156corresponding to the setscrews 38 and which coact with the end walls 100and 102 to releasably retain the top assembly 104 in position over theupper end of the housing 92.

In operation, the shaker 90 may be utilized in substantially the samemanner as the shaker and after the housing 92 has been shaken orinverted and then returned to an upright rest position certain or all ofthe screw shafts 138 may be rotated so as to shift the frames 142 towardthe front wall 96 and thereby engage and forwardly displace thecorresponding dice 146 until the latter have been positioned against theinner surface of the front wall 96 below the rib or ledge 134. Then,those faces of the dice 146 abutting the front wall 96 may be readthrough the latter from left to right in the matter designated by thearrow 160 which-is applied to both-sides of the housing 92, the housing12 including similar arrows 162. Of course, inasmuch as the housingsHand 92 are constructed of transparent material, any set ofcorresponding faces of the dice 60 .and 146, including even the lowerfaces thereof, may be read. i i

If it isr desired, the screw shafts 72 and 138 may be threadecllysecured through suitable internally threaded sleeves carried by the rearwall 18 and the rear wall portions 140, respectively, if the material ofwhich the latter are constructed proves to be too soft.

Although the dice shakers 10 and 90' may be utilized in any number ofgames it is contemplated that the shakers will be utilized primarily inconjunction with games Whose rules assign a given meaning to differentpossible binary values of the associated dice so as to have a largenumber of possible values which may be indicated by a relatively smallnumber of dice. The shakers 10 and 90 are particularly well adapted foruse in connection with binary dice since the latter must be read fromleft to right and normal rolling of dice from the hand sometimes resultsin the dice being above each other or not clearly spaced from left toright for ease in reading in left to right sequence. Further, if theshakers 10 and 90 are to be utilized in conjunction with the binarydice, the games played with the shakers will of course be constructedaround actual numeric value or by assigning a meaning to binary value.

It is also contemplated that a third embodiment of dice shaker may beprovided. Such a third embodiment (not illustrated) would be similar tothe shaker 90 but in lieu of the rib 134 and frames 142 would includehorizontally slidable shelves, one for each die compartment, shiftablethrough slots formed in the corresponding rear Wall portions atapproximately the elevation of the rib 134 and including opposite sidelongitudinal edge portions slidable in confronting horizontal channelsformed in the corresponding partitions and end walls. Such shelves wouldproject outwardly of and be manually operable from the rear of theshaker and shiftable between positions almost entirely withdrawn throughthe rear wall of the shaker and positions abutting the inner surface ofthe front wall of the shaker spaced slightly above the correspondingdice.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a housing including upstanding front and rear wallsinterconnected at their lower ends by a bottom wall, a plurality ofupstanding partitions extending between said front and rear wallsdefining a plurality of compartments therebetween each including abottom wall section, a die disposed in each of said compartments andreceivable on the corresponding bottom wall section, at leastupperportions of said compartments being of suflicient volume to enable thedice to freely tumble therein, said housing including die pushing andclamping means mounted for movement between said walls in each of saidcompartments and operable to engage said dice when disposed at rest inthe bottom portions of said compartments and push said dice towardengagement with one of said walls, at least. some portions of said onewall 7 against which said dice may be pushed being transparent clampedbeneath said rib.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said compartments are verticallyelongated and decrease downwardly in plan area.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said'compart- 'ments are generallyconstant in plan area throughout their vertical extent.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pushing and clamping meansincludes selectively and individually movable portions thereof in eachof said compartments.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing includes removabletop means closing the upper ends of said compartments.

7. In combination, a housing including upstanding front and rear wallsinterconnected at their lower ends by a bottom wall, a plurality ofupstanding partitions extending between said front and rear wallsdefining a plurality of compartments therebetween each including abottom wall section, a die disposed in each of said compartments andreceivable on the corresponding bottom wall section, at least upperportions of said compartments being of suflicient volume to enable thedice to freely tumble therein, said housing including die pushing andclamping means mounted for movement between said walls in each of saidcompartments and operable to engage said dice when disposed at rest inthe bottom portions of said compartments and push said dice towardengagement with one of said walls, at least some portions of said onewall against which said dice may be pushed being transparent for viewingthe sides of said dice opposing said one wall through the latter, saiddie pushing and clamping means including selectively and individuallymovable portions thereof in each of said compartments, said die pushingand clamping means including generally horizontally disposed screwmembers threadedly secured through said rear wall and including enlargeddie engaging portions on their inner ends.

8. In combination, a housing including upstanding front and rear wallsinterconnected at their lower ends by a bottom wall, a plurality ofupstanding partitions extending between said front and rear wallsdefining a plurality of compartments therebetween each including abottom wall section, a die disposed in each of said compartments andreceivable on the corresponding bottom wall section, at least upperportions of said compartments being of suflicient volume to enable thedice to freely tumble therein, said housing including die pushing andclamping means mounted for movement between said walls in each of saidcompartments and operable to engage said dice when disposed at rest inthe bottom portions of said compartments and push said dice towardengagement with one of said walls, at least some portions of said onewall against which said dice may be pushed being transparent for viewingthe sides of said dice opposing said one wall through the latter, saiddie pushing and clamping means including selectively and individuallymovable portions thereof in each of said compartments, said die pushingand clamping means including an elongated horizontally disposed innerend frame member disposed in each of said compartments and extendingl0ngi tudinally of said housing, said frame members including portionsthereof projecting rearwardly thereof and slidably received through saidrear wall.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein each of said frame members and acorresponding portion of said rear wall have operatively connectedtherebetween a threaded screw member for shifting said frame membersrelative to said rear wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 500,478 6/1893 Edge et a1.502,876 8/1893 Cahoon. 954,070 4/1910 Zschau. 2,739,815 3/1956 Fay.3,240,496 3/ 1966 Reynertson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 833,694 7/1938 France.

192,030 5/ 1923 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner

